Ride2Survive passes through Mission Saturday night

For eight years, about 100 ordinary people have set aside their hobbies and sacrificed their weekends to spend half a year training for one of the toughest one-day amateur cycling events in North America, the Ride2Survive.

The event raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society, and so far this year the crew and riders have raised $345,000. Since its inception the ride has raised $1.9 million for cancer research.

Training began in February with bike rides 80 kilometres long. Two weeks ago, the training rides hit the 200-kilometre mark. On June 23, another group of ordinary people will get on their bikes in Kelowna at 3:30 a.m. and arrive 19 hours later in North Delta.

The ride will be passing through Mission around 7 p.m., and spectators are encouraged to gather at the Mission Visitor Information Centre on Lougheed Highway at that time.

To follow the group’s progress by GPS tracking on ride day, read their stories from the road or make a donation, please go to www.ride2survive.ca.